How ELISA Kits Help Specialists To Diagnose Diseases Quicker And More Efficiently

By Jocelyn Davidson


In the medical field, new medicines, treatment methods and procedures are introduced at such a dazzling pace that even medical experts struggle to stay up to date. In the field of diagnostics many advances have also been made. If a disease can be diagnosed during its early stages it is easier to treat and the chances of success are much better. ELISA kits have proven to be a major breakthrough. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay enables diagnosticians to recognize certain conditions quickly.

The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, or EIA as it is known for short is performed in a laboratory. The test is easy to run and many tests can be performed at the same time. The purpose of the test is to measure the concentration of both antigens and antibodies in the blood sample. The ability to measure this concentration is a very important part of the diagnostic process.

When there are antibodies present in a blood sample it means that the body has produced them to counteract the effects of a harmful substance, called antigens. If there are antibodies present, it is certain that there are also antigens because the antibodies are only produced when a threat is detected. By identifying the specific type of antibody produced by the body it is also possible to determine the exact nature of the threat.

The administration of the test is quick and painless. All that is required from the patient is a small blood sample. The sample is taken to a laboratory where it is added to a series of petri dishes that were prepared with different antigens. The antibodies can be identified when they react to specific antigens. The further reactions between the two agents are then studied by adding enzymes.

There are different forms of the EIA test, ranging from very simple to extremely complex. Different kits are used for the different forms of the test. With the direct EIA test, for example, the antigen is first covered with a multiwall plate. In this case the antibody in the blood sample will only react with the antigen if specific enzymes are added.

The indirect EIA test is much more sensitive. In this case a polystyrene plate is used to cover the antigen. The antibody can only detect the antigen during two well controlled stages. The advantage of this test is that both primary and secondary antibodies can be identified at the same time. This ability may eliminate the need for further tests, thus saving both time and money.

One of the most accurate tests is called the sandwich EIA test. In this test matched pairs of antibodies are utilized. One of the antibodies is coated with polystyrene and the other one is used as an agent for detection. One of the main advantages of this form of the test is that the concentration of analytes can be determined accurately. This can help in diagnosing latent diseases that cannot easily be done with other tests.

Any test or procedure that can help physicians to diagnose a disease at an earlier stage can help save lives. The EIA test certainly enables the accurate and early diagnosis of a variety of conditions. This can help ensure that treatment programs are less invasive and that the prognosis is better.




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